We use cookies to make your visit to our website a better experience. If you are happy to receive all cookies on this website, please continue. Alternatively, adjust your settings before proceeding. To find out more, see our cookie policy.

Landlord and property

The Immigration Bill

Following a second reading in the House of Commons, the UK’s approach to immigration is being reformed through the Immigration Bill, with three main objectives:

To stop migrants using public services to which they aren’t entitled

To reduce the pull factors which make the UK so appealing to illegal immigrants

To make it easier to remove the people who shouldn’t be here

Although immigration is down almost a fifth since it peaked in 2010, there’s still abuse of the system, meaning that work needs to be done.

The Immigration Minister, Mark Harper MP, has highlighted the issue of it being too easy for people to live and work in the UK illegally, and the importance of making sure that the system is fair to British citizens and legitimate immigrants who want to contribute to our economy and society, and play by the rules.

In order to do this, the removals and appeals system is being reformed, to make it easier and quicker to remove those with no right to be here. The bill will make this easier by cutting the number of decisions that can be appealed, restricting the ability of immigration detainees to apply repeatedly for bail and by extending the number of non-suspensive appeals.

These measures for landlords are considered highly significant and take up 16 clauses – a quarter of the bill, therefore there have been concerns raised about the provisions on landlords within the Bill. Mark Harper has confirmed that the government will look into this to ensure the provisions work well for the landlord and letting agency sector.

The Immigration Bill should make it easier to identify illegal immigrants, through extending powers to check fingerprints, searching for passports and examining the status of migrants seeking to marry. Banks are also being prohibited from opening bank accounts for migrants identified as being in the UK unlawfully.

These measures combined aren’t considered to be excessive, but a relative approach to a significant problem which aims to reach the balance of keeping the UK an attractive place to live and work for British citizens and legitimate immigrants, yet the least attractive destination for illegal immigrants.

The Bill has passed its second reading and has now moved to Committee stage.

We use cookies to make your visit to our website a better experience. If you are happy to receive all cookies on this website, please continue. Alternatively, adjust your settings before proceeding. To find out more, see our cookie policy.